Brutal Truth bassist Danny Lilker, who played for Nuclear Assault during the thrash era, describes Get Thrashed as “a definitive and thorough treatise on the thrash movement. If you missed out on thrash... this is mandatory viewing, and for all of us that were swept up in the fury of the storm, this will bring back memories of a time when new ground was being broken in metal and the ante was upped considerably!” Its NYC premiere was special to director Rick Ernst because "it’s where I had so many amazing... experiences, from nearly getting crushed at an Overkill show at the Ritz to seeing Slayer get banned from the Felt Forum to watching the Clash of the Titans tour hit Madison Square Garden.”
Get Thrashed premiered at the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival July 14 and the NYII Film & Video Festival July 25. The New York City screening was at the Village East Cinema on 2nd Avenue at 12th St. Get Thrashed was directed by Rick Ernst and former Overkill drummer Rat Skates as associate producer, and produced by Saigon1515 Productions in association with Kundrat Productions. Visit myspace.com/getthrashed for additional festival screening information. The trailer can be viewed at getthrashed.com along with screening photos and preview clips featuring Metallica, Biohazard, Death Angel, Overkill, Sodom, Testament, Megadeth, Hirax and Megaforce Records founders Jon and Marsha Zazula.
"When they're not blowing out the windows, Marduk will scare your crucifix off the wall," Guitar World recently said of the Swedish black metal band's current release Rom 5:12. Received well by Revolver, Outburn, Blabbermouth, Metal Observer and Unbound Zine, it shows Marduk are only building up more steam after 17 years in existence. Rom 5:12 is the band's ninth full-length, recorded at Magnus "Devo" Andersson's Endarker Studio. Former vocalist Joakim Göthberg makes a guest appearance on "Cold Mouth Prayer" while Alan of Primordial appears on the song "Accuser/Opposer."
Along with the ground breaking black metal classics Dark Endless, Those Of The Unlight, Opus Nocturne and Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered, Marduk's live recording Warschau has been rereleased by Candlelight subsidiary Regain records. Each reissue from Marduk's back catalogue includes bonus tracks and updated artwork. The band has enjoyed a resurgence of their fanbase since these were reissued. Marduk is currently touring the Eastern Hemisphere; dates in England, France, Australia, Poland, Greece, Spain, Germany and several other countries are now confirmed.
In preparation for the upcoming release of Xecutioner's Return, Obituary are planning dates for a Stateside tour this fall. Among the confirmed dates is an appearance at BB KIng's Blues Club on September 12. Alabama Thunderpussy, Full Blown Chaos and Hemlock are the support acts. Candlelight Records is to release Xecutioner's Return on August 28. In cooperation with iTunes, Candlelight will release "Evil Ways" as an advance single July 31. The full album will be available to subscribers of iTunes on the date of its release. Sirius Satellite Radio will pre-release promote "Evil Ways" and Metal Maniacs (myspace.com/metalmaniacs) is hosting an online contest to win a copy of Xecutioner's Return.
Visit Candlelight's official site at candlelightusa.com for information about Entombed's new recording Serpent Saints besides new CDs by UDO (Mastercutor), Martriden (Martriden), Mithras (Behind the Shadows Lie Madness), Pantheon-I (The Wanderer and His Shadow), Almah (Edu Falashi), Rose Funeral (Crucify Kill Rot), Birdflesh (Mongo Musicale), Memfis (The Wind-Up), Crionics (Neuthrone), Litmus (Planetfall), Winters (Black Clouds In Twin Galaxies), White Chapel (The Somatic Defilement), and Furze (Necromanzee Cogent and Trident Autocrat reissues). Merchandise info for Entombed, Crionics, Marilyn Manson, Burzum, Opeth and Keep Of Kalessin is available at Candlelight's webstore.
In Southern Lord news, Weedeater have embarked upon a few mini-tours to support their current release God Luck And Good Speed. Their most recent tour took them to Club Midway in NYC on July 20. Earth recently opened for Pelican on a handful of East Coast performances. July 24 & 25 took them to the Bowery Ballroom in NYC and the Luna Lounge in Brooklyn. Weedeater and Earth took part in the Southern Lord 777 West Coast tour earlier in July. The Hidden Hand is coming to the Bowery Ballroom with Clutch and Beatallica for a release party for Royal Flush Magazine August 31. See southernlord.com for release information on OM and Wolves In The Throne Room and tour info for Glorior Belli.
New releases to come from Battle Kommand records are We Are The Grim Throng from Chicago's Exalted (August), Collection 2xCD from Godless North (September) and Gate To Sheol from Gloria Diaboli (release date to be announced). These are to accompany Spun In Darkness' current release Birthright which was unleashed to stores July 17. The Las Vegas based band features former Goatlord drummer Jeff Nardone on drums and lead vocals. Likewise available from Battle Kommand is Dog Magic, the new album by Zoroaster who are on tour with Christine. August 6 brings the band to the Knitting Factory in NYC and August 7 at Europa in Brooklyn (Rosetta is the opening band). Visit thezoroaster.com.
The Long Island based label Paragon records has released Charnel Valley's sophomore album The Igneous Race in a slipcase CD format. A cassette release is to follow. New York black metallers Ash Pool are releasing a vinyl edition of their debut rerelease World Turns On Its Hinges, initially released on CD via Tour De Garde and on cassette via Northern Sky Productions. Asian black metallers Darkestrah were recently signed to Paragon. Since 1999, they have created an innovative style honoring their shaman roots, incorporating female vocals and traditional instruments like the kyl-kyjak, komuz and sygyt. Their CDs Sary Oy, Embrace Of Memory & Epos are acclaimed by the underground press. Viziok by Hungary’s Aetherius Obscuritas and Vallis Ex Umbra De Mortuus by Rigor Sardonicous are due out this fall.
Another Long Island-based underground label, Non Compos Mentis, recently released new CDs by Satanic Funeral (Night Of The Goat) and Dimentianon (Hossanus Novus Orde Seculorum). The label's website at ncmrecords.com has CD release information for cult black metal bands Mord, Morbius and Decieverion, a split CD by Bellium and Rhune and vinyl release information on U.S. black metal bands Arghoslent, Debauchery, Thralldom, Bone Awl and Morbosidad in addition to black and death metal bands from France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Hungary and elsewhere.
Correction from last issue: King Diamond's tour with opening acts Kreator,
Leaves' Eyes and Cellador will happen in 2008. Billed as The King Diamond
North American Give Me Your Soul Tour on covenworldwide.org, the tour opened
its ticket sales via enterthevault.com on June 7th; presales will continue
until August 5. Between March and May 2008 the tour will visit Florida, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts,
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, California,
Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and several
countries in Canada. The tour comes to BB King's on April 1 and April 2, 2008.
